Releasing mechanism for boats.



F. ERIKSEN. BELEASING MECHANISM FOR BOATS APPLIUATIDN I'ILEDSEPT. 17, 1910.

Patented Feb-14, 1911-.

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FRITZ ERIKSEN, OF COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.

RELEASING MECHANISM FOR BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

Application filed September 17, 1910. Serial No. 582,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ ERIKSEN, captain, a citizen of the Kingdom of Denmark, and a resident of 3 Taffelbays All, Copenhagen, Denmark, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Releasing Mechanism for Boats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic releasing hooks for use on ships and the like and more particularly adapted for releasing lifeboats and life rafts when they have been launched.

The releasing hooks of my invention relate to that class in which the boat are suspended from the tackle blocks by fore and aft hooks which are linked together and adapted to act simultaneously to release the boat or raft as soon as it is water borne owing to the pressure ceasing on said hooks and allowing them to turn.

My invention comprises a simplified construction of hooks of this class which is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a side view of a set of hooks, and Fig. 2 shows an alternative form.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the boat 1 or raft, as the case may be, is provided with a pair of hooks 2 adapted to turn on their pivots 3. The said hooks 2 are adapted to be passed through the rings 7 which are supported from the tackle blocks of the ship (not shown). The pivoted ends of the hooks 2 are in the form of toothed segments 20 adapted to engage the racks 21 arranged at the ends of a connection pole or bar 22 which is controlled by a spiral spring 23. As shown, as long as there is a pull on the hooks 2, owing to the boat being sus pended on the tackle blocks, said hooks are held in the closed position engaging the projections 4 and the connecting bar 22 is held in the position in which the spiral spring 23 is extended. As soon as the boat or raft floats and consequently the pull upon said hooks 2 through the rings 7 ceases, the said spiral 23 will move said bar 22 in the direction of the arrow and consequently turn said hooks on their pivots simultaneously to a position in which they are out of engagement with the said rings 7 and thereby immediately free said boat or raft from the tackle blocks. of the ship. In this manner it is possible to be. absolutely certain that the boat or the like is not unlocked until it is floating upon the Water.

In Fig. 2 I show an alternative form of my invention in which the bar 22 is provided with a lateral projecting pin 23 which is engaged by a Weighted lever 25. It will be obvious that as soon as the pull upon the hooks 2 ceases the weighted lever 25 will move the bar 22 to a position in which its rack 21 has turned said hook and released the rings 7.

It will be noticed from both Figs. 1 and 2, that the connecting bar 22 is held in mesh with the toothed segments 20 by guide devices underlying the transverse connecting loar at points directly opposite the toothed segments.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In automatic releasing mechanism for boats and rafts, the combination of pivoted members having, above their pivots, hooks for detachable connection with a suspending tackle and provided below their pivots with toothed segments, of guide devices opposite and spaced apart from said toothed segments and a connecting bar extending at its opposite ends between the respective segments and guide devices and toothed adjacent said ends for engagement with the segments and means exerting a longitudinal tension on said bar whereby it may be automatically operated to release the hooks from the tackle when a suspended boat is water borne, substantially as set forth.

2; An automatic releasing mechanism for boats, comprising spaced apart pivoted members having means for detachable connection with a suspending tackle and also provided with toothed segments, guide devices opposite and spaced apart from their respective toothed segments, a bar extending at its opposite ends between the respective segments and guide devices and toothed for engagement with the segments and means giving a longitudinal tension to said bar whereby it may be operated to release the hooks from the tackle when a suspended boat is water borne.

Signed by me at Copenhagen, Denmark, this 8th day of September 1910.

FRITZ ERIKSEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES HUDE, ,F6STRAM WQLSING. 

